6 things to consider when choosing a steel building company
Business

6 things to consider when choosing a steel building company

Steel building companies are hired to do major structural work in barns, churches, homes, warehouses, workshops, and other places. They work with steel as the primary building material and find their use in all commercial, industrial, and residential setups. But before one can sign a contractor, here are a few considerations to look into. Forgetting to cross-check these can lead to wasted time, money, and potential structural issues down the line. Types of structures offered Steel building companies have specializations. Some work with storage facilities, while some focus on community spaces. One should research the company’s technical capabilities and see whether they align with one’s needs. License and certification It’s mandatory for steel building companies to have licenses before they start operations. Certifications are also important because they indicate the company can handle metal building projects. Use of materials Find out what kind of material the company uses. Is it alloy-coated, heavy-gauge, or recycled content steel? Each serves a different purpose. For example, heavy-gauge steel is relatively more sturdy and weather-resistant, while alloy is good for coastal places with thicker and moist air. The recycled option is suitable for environmentally conscious users since 80% of its content is recycled. Experience It’s imperative to check the company’s previous work and see if its projects are similar to what one’s looking for.
4 packaging mistakes that brands should avoid making
Business

4 packaging mistakes that brands should avoid making

Packaging is one of the most important aspects of branding. The right packaging can assist the brand in leaving a lasting impression on its potential customers. It also ensures that the product reaches the customers without any damage. Business owners need to consider numerous factors that will make the packaging both attractive and durable. There are also some packaging mistakes that they should avoid. These are mentioned below: 1. Improper sizing Selecting the right packaging size is one of the first steps to packaging correctly. However, it is also one of the common places most businesses go wrong. Some businesses make the package box bigger to save the fragile contents. However, they end up leaving the products more vulnerable to damage. Picking a snug fit helps reduce the possibility of damage and provides the best protection. It also gives the shoppers an idea of the right package size. 2. Poor quality Another common mistake with packaging is using cheap materials that are not durable. Businesses usually do this to reduce production expenses. Most assume this practice helps improve profit margins. However, it is one of the practices that can lead to higher expenses in the long run. Poor quality could mean easy damage to the packaging.
5 common shipping mistakes and ways to avoid them
Business

5 common shipping mistakes and ways to avoid them

With increasing e-commerce transactions, the shipping industry is booming more than ever. Whether it’s an online store or a brick-and-mortar retail operation, shipping products safely and efficiently is a must for almost all businesses today. However, any issues in this process can result in damaged goods, packaging issues, add-on shipping costs, or customer dissatisfaction. Here are some common shipping mistakes to avoid to ensure the best services and save on fixing shipping errors. Improper or faulty packing Most product damages during shipping can be avoided if the packing is proper. Inadequate packing, whether in size or protection, can damage the contents during transit. It’s important to use the right boxes and cushioning for items to avoid wasted time, resources, and extra costs for the store or shipping company. Errors in bill of lading A bill of lading (BOL) is a legally binding document with shipping details. This document lists the responsibility of both shipper and carrier, and any issues here, like wrong country or state code, wrong origin or destination, incorrect goods description or goods ownership, and others, can lead to time-consuming and costly delays. Estimating shipping weight wrongly Weight estimation of the shipment is a crucial part of the process, and getting these numbers wrong can cost more.
4 project management mistakes online Gantt charts can help avoid
Business

4 project management mistakes online Gantt charts can help avoid

Handling a project is a lot of hard work. With so many moving parts to overlook, making mistakes and missing crucial deadlines is easy. However, there is a simple solution to these problems: an online Gantt chart. A Gantt chart displays all project-related tasks in one space so one can easily monitor the project. Here are the four most common project management mistakes online Gantt charts can help people avoid. Failure to set a clear timeline When starting a new project, all team members should know the flow of processes and deadlines. It can lead to confusion and delays if everyone is not on the same page. Here’s where a Gantt chart steps in to save the day. It pushes team leaders to create the overall schedule and flow and connect various teams for a seamless project rollout. Forgetting about task dependencies Before starting any project, the team members should know the order in which they must perform individual tasks. Skipping this could create a lack of accountability and delay the project. An online Gantt chart can help illustrate the flow of tasks in a simple way using arrows and the Critical Path Method (CPM). A lack of coordination Every project involves several stakeholders.
5 benefits of text messaging as a small business tool
Business

5 benefits of text messaging as a small business tool

Starting a business can be an overwhelming venture for aspiring entrepreneurs. Aspects of the small business, like demand, supply, and customer service, must be constantly improved so it can thrive. However, in the buzz of social media and its avenues, text messaging is often forgotten as a means to communicate. Surveys indicate that SMS marketing has a higher click-through rate and read time. Here is how text messaging can help a small business grow. Real-time communication A business can communicate with its client base in real time through text messaging, which helps improve response times and decision-making. SMS replies are about 60 times faster than emails. For instance, it may take 90 seconds to respond to a text, while an email may take up to 90 minutes. Improved customer service With the help of text messaging services, a business can easily follow up with customers regarding factors like appointments, complaints, promotions, and their quality of service. Through quick responses, a business can identify problems quickly and deal with them immediately. Ultimately, it helps boost the business’ loyalty and Net Promoter Score (NPS). Lead capture with web-to-text A web-to-text widget can help a business maximize conversation traffic in various situations. For example, the tool will let visitors immediately text the business about their queries or purchases instead of waiting for a reply to their email or spending time on hold on call.

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6 high dividend ETF funds you can invest in
finance

6 high dividend ETF funds you can invest in

Before you search for the best dividend exchange-traded funds (ETFs), it is recommended you understand your needs and overall investment objectives. ETFs are hybrids of mutual funds and stocks. When you invest in the ETF, you purchase shares in the fund, which buys the underlying asset. Here are six of the best high-dividend ETF funds: Vanguard High Dividend Yield (VYM) This ETF adopts the simple method of choosing stocks that have higher dividend yield when compared to other companies. This has resulted in building a diversified portfolio comprising 400 stocks with higher market capitalization. The majority of these stocks belong to the healthcare, consumer, and financial sectors. During the last decade, VYM delivered average annual returns of 12.9%. The expense ratio is the lowest in the industry at 0.06% per annum. Vanguard Dividend Appreciation (VIG) The ETF focuses on investing in companies that have a long history of increasing their dividend payouts over the years. The portfolio includes approximately 180 stocks with low yields. The ETF has earned average returns of 12.6% per year over the last 10 years. The expense ratio is 0.06%, which makes it an excellent option if you do not mind lower dividend returns currently but want to earn more in the future.
Top 5 providers for automated investments
finance

Top 5 providers for automated investments

Roboadvisors are gaining popularity as these investment programs offer affordable financial advice to a large number of investors. These automated advisors use an algorithm to recommend investment options that best suit your requirements. The best automated investing algorithms offer simple account setup, portfolio management, low fees, strong goal planning, and security. Here are the top five providers of automated investments. Betterment This roboadvisor is the best for delivering top-quality services. You may sync various financial accounts without investing to gain an overall picture of your investment portfolio. You may choose the pre-built Betterment portfolios or customize one to meet your needs. The algorithm gives you the flexibility to add new goals as required while monitoring your progress without any difficulties. The advisor charges between 0.25% and 0.4% management fees with no minimum account requirement. Wealthfront It is one of the largest Robo-advisors and provides goal-based investing enabling you to understand the future effects of your financial decisions. You may choose from a wide range of portfolios that comprise individual stocks to meet your financial goals. Once your portfolio accumulates USD 25,000, Wealthfront allows you to borrow against its value. The service provider also offers margin lending. The management fee for most accounts is 0.25% and you need an account minimum of USD 500.
Top 5 retirement investment funds for your portfolio
finance

Top 5 retirement investment funds for your portfolio

Most people work for decades so that they can make investments and collect sufficient funds for their retirement years. Having enough savings for the golden years is ideally the most significant goal for you as an investor, but the volatile market may make it difficult to understand which retirement funds are suitable for you. To help you out, here are the best retirement investments that you can include in your portfolio: Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund This retirement fund is created for investors who want to retire early so that they can enjoy the benefits of their investment within 15 years. However, even if you don’t want to retire that early, this fund has various offerings that make it one of the best retirement investments available in the market. As of now, this retirement fund offers a current yield of over 2%, and the expense ratio is 0.14%. Plus, Vanguard is quite a trusted name for keeping your money safe. Northern Global Tactical Asset Allocation Fund This fund offers one of the best diversifications and a lot more protection in case the fund underperforms. So, it invests in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds and aims to provide long-term capital appreciation at an expense ratio of 0.58%.
Top 5 capital providers for your business
finance

Top 5 capital providers for your business

People who wish to set up their business ventures need additional funding to get going. Many banks and financial institutions help promising businesses with the same and in this article, we would be covering guaranteed business loan providers. You can check the following list out when looking for business loan providers. Wells Fargo Wells Fargo is one of the best financial institutions when it comes to guaranteed business loan providers in the market. It offers various other financial products. It claims to be a leader when it comes to small business loans. The unsecured business loan has varied loan amounts starting from $10,000 and going up to $100,000. The term for this product is between one to five years. Additionally, you can go for other loans offered by Wells Fargo, such as the Equipment Express Loan or the Advancing Term Loan. Capital One Capital One does not only offer good deals on business credit cards, its business loan is worth considering too. If you are looking at a funding source that can help expand your business or get going with the operations, then we highly recommend you to choose the business loan offered by Capital One. Starting at a minimal amount of $10,000 and a maximum term length of 5 years, the repayment term is simple and can be done on a monthly basis.
All you need to know about home insurance policy
finance

All you need to know about home insurance policy

Buying a home comes with a lot of responsibilities. There are a lot of risks that come with owning a home like the risk of theft and property damage. Investing in the right kind of home insurance policy is important so as to be financially prepared for these risks. There are several different companies in the market that offer home insurance policies with different kinds of terms and coverages. Remember the following points before choosing a home insurance policy. Explore your options As mentioned earlier, there is a wide variety of home insurance policies available to homeowners at this time. When selecting one, it is important to consider factors like what potential risks are being covered in the policy. It is also important to consider the company’s record in your area, whether they are reliable as insurance providers, and their response time. Ask about discounts Home insurance policy in 2021 offers additional services and discounts. They may offer discounts on additional safety installment services such as installing an alarm system, smoke alarm, or better locks. There may also be certain offers for old and retired personnel as well as some discounts for policies when taken via your employer’s or organization’s reference.
5 technologies revolutionizing financial services
finance

5 technologies revolutionizing financial services

For any industry to sustain itself in today’s world, implementing digital strategies has become indispensable. This holds particularly true for the financial services industry. The good news is that digital transformation in financial services has already begun, and we’ll likely see more and more innovative technologies underpinning banking and financial institutions in the coming years. Keep reading to learn about the latest digital transformation trends in the financial services industry. Big data and artificial intelligence The combination of big data and artificial intelligence is a revolutionary digital strategy that is shaping the future of banking and financial services. The technology helps institutions process, store, and drive valuable insights from the data they gather from their customers’ activities. Big data and artificial intelligence allow institutions to create a highly personalized experience, helping businesses attract and retain customers. Blockchain Blockchain is a fairly new technology that is becoming increasingly popular in the financial services industry. With blockchain technology, all transactions are permanently stored in the blockchain network, providing the highest level of transparency and security. Nobody can tamper with these transactions, which nearly eliminates the risk of error and fraud. Besides security, the technology is being explored for use in a wide variety of banking and investment applications.